And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. The decision is made: touto poieso (τοῦτο ποιήσω, "This will I do"). Seven first-person references saturate this verse—a relentless drumbeat of self-focus. The verb kathaireo (καθελῶ, I will pull down) means to demolish, destroy, or tear down—he will destroy functional buildings to construct monuments to his abundance.
The phrase build greater (oikodomeso meizonas, οἰκοδομήσω μείζονας) reveals expansionist thinking—bigger is better, more provides security. This quest for self-sufficiency through accumulation directly contradicts Jesus' teaching that life does not consist in abundance of possessions (v. 15). The repetition all my fruits and my goods (panta ton siton kai ta agatha mou, πάντα τὸν σῖτον καὶ τὰ ἀγαθά μου) emphasizes totalistic hoarding—every bit belongs to him and will be stored for him.
Theologically, this verse exposes the idolatry of wealth. The rich man trusts apothēkai (ἀποθῆκαι, barns/storehouses) rather than God. His building project mirrors Babel (Genesis 11:4)—human effort to secure the future apart from divine providence. He says psyche (ψυχή, soul) to his goods (v. 19), addressing his immortal soul as if material things could satisfy spiritual hunger. This is the essence of covetousness (pleonexia, πλεονεξία, v. 15)—the belief that more possessions equal more life.
Historical Context
In the ancient Near East, granaries symbolized wealth, power, and security. Egyptian pharaohs and Mesopotamian kings built massive storehouses as monuments to prosperity. Joseph's storage program saved Egypt during famine (Genesis 41:47-49), but he did so under divine direction for the sake of many nations. By contrast, this rich man builds solely for self-preservation with no thought of divine purpose or communal benefit. First-century listeners would recognize this as violating Torah principles of generosity—Proverbs 11:24-26 warns that hoarding leads to poverty while generosity brings blessing. The man's demolition of existing barns to build bigger ones shows wealth's insatiable nature.
Questions for Reflection
In what areas of life do you pursue 'bigger and better' rather than asking what God desires you to do with His blessings?
How does the endless quest for security through accumulation reveal lack of trust in God's ongoing provision?
What possessions or achievements have you addressed as if they could satisfy your soul's deepest needs?
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Analysis & Commentary
And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. The decision is made: touto poieso (τοῦτο ποιήσω, "This will I do"). Seven first-person references saturate this verse—a relentless drumbeat of self-focus. The verb kathaireo (καθελῶ, I will pull down) means to demolish, destroy, or tear down—he will destroy functional buildings to construct monuments to his abundance.
The phrase build greater (oikodomeso meizonas, οἰκοδομήσω μείζονας) reveals expansionist thinking—bigger is better, more provides security. This quest for self-sufficiency through accumulation directly contradicts Jesus' teaching that life does not consist in abundance of possessions (v. 15). The repetition all my fruits and my goods (panta ton siton kai ta agatha mou, πάντα τὸν σῖτον καὶ τὰ ἀγαθά μου) emphasizes totalistic hoarding—every bit belongs to him and will be stored for him.
Theologically, this verse exposes the idolatry of wealth. The rich man trusts apothēkai (ἀποθῆκαι, barns/storehouses) rather than God. His building project mirrors Babel (Genesis 11:4)—human effort to secure the future apart from divine providence. He says psyche (ψυχή, soul) to his goods (v. 19), addressing his immortal soul as if material things could satisfy spiritual hunger. This is the essence of covetousness (pleonexia, πλεονεξία, v. 15)—the belief that more possessions equal more life.